I don't think I've ever seen a week like this, where a bunch of good (?) teams just fell in the crapper. Where to even start...

Dallas: Needs a win to get in. Instead, they lose 44-6 (!) to Philly!

Tampa Bay: Needs a win to have a chance. They lose to the RAIDERS! Too bad, because the Dallas loss would have given them the playoff spot.

Chicago: Lose to the Texans. Too bad, because the Dallas and Tampa Bay losses would have given them the playoff spot.

Denver: Good lord, what happened here? They just stumbled to the finish and now they're going home while 8-8 San Diego goes to the playoffs. And before Chargers fans celebrate, this means that Norv Turner just saved his job. D'oh.

New York Jets: Their collapse at the end of the season gets a cherry on top with their loss to the Dolphins. Now Chad Pennington gets to go to the playoffs while the Jets get to go on the "2009 Brett Favre Retirement (?) Tour". How'd that trade work out?

Originally posted by It's FalseNew York Jets: Their collapse at the end of the season gets a cherry on top with their loss to the Dolphins. Now Chad Pennington gets to go to the playoffs while the Jets get to go on the "2009 Bret Favre Retirement (?) Tour". How'd that trade work out?

Not to mention that the sting will still be felt next April when the Packers get that extra 2nd round draft pick.

I hated myself for enduring the three soul-crushing hours that was the Philly-Cincy tie earlier this year. And after last week's loss to Washington, I was ready to give up on the Eagles, and probably football altogether. But if demolishing Dallas in a win-and-in game doesn't restore one's love of the game, then I don't know what would...

I wouldn't say the Chargers are cannon fodder at 8-8. Considering they lost close games to the Colts and Steelers (especially if Big Ben's brain is still scrambled) this season, a path to the Conference Title Game is not out of the question, and should the Ravens get there as well, the Chargers would have home field in the AFC Title Game.If you are the Bucs, how do you blow a 10 point lead to the Raiders? I guess Michael Bush finally has recovered from the broken leg he suffered at Louisville though.Why didn't the Eagles go for it on some of those 4th and shorts in order to hang 50 on Dallas? When Pacman and Tank are arguing on the sideline, is that the football equivalent of Stalin vs. Hitler?I know he won 2 Super Bowls with Elway. However, when does that statute of limitations expire on Shanahan when you miss the playoffs 3 straight years and you blow a 3 game lead with 3 left?Dick Jauron running the ball into the line in the last 20 seconds of the 1st half inside the Patriots 15 with no time outs left in a 3-0 game would be up there for worst coaching decisions of the year, if not for his coaching decision against the Jets.Wait, the Jets missed the playoffs? I thought they had home field throughout clinched, as it was a multi day controversy over how could the conference title games be played on the same day with both the Jets and the Giants hosting the games. But, at least because the J-E-T-S got the ball back one last time, Favre didn't end his career with an interception, he ended it with an illegal forward pass. I'll go out on a limb and predict the Browns offensive coordinator will not get the head coaching job.

Originally posted by BigDaddyLocoI'm really let down to see my 11-5 Pats have to go home and sit, while a Cardinals team they blew out just last week, and an 8-8 Chargers team both get to be first round cannon fodder.

The Patriots were 3-3 in their own division. The Cardinals were 6-0. Moral: Win the games you have to win, and you make the playoffs.

Originally posted by BigDaddyLocoI'm really let down to see my 11-5 Pats have to go home and sit, while a Cardinals team they blew out just last week, and an 8-8 Chargers team both get to be first round cannon fodder.

The Patriots were 3-3 in their own division. The Cardinals were 6-0. Moral: Win the games you have to win, and you make the playoffs.

4-2 in the division. Everyone lost one to each other except the Bills who went 0-6. Pats lost out to the Phins due to conference record.

Originally posted by BigDaddyLocoI'm really let down to see my 11-5 Pats have to go home and sit, while a Cardinals team they blew out just last week, and an 8-8 Chargers team both get to be first round cannon fodder.

The Patriots were 3-3 in their own division. The Cardinals were 6-0. Moral: Win the games you have to win, and you make the playoffs.

4-2 in the division. Everyone lost one to each other except the Bills who went 0-6. Pats lost out to the Phins due to conference record.

Yes the Pats were 4-2 in the division. They have no one to blame but themselves. If they had beat Indy (Gaffney drops the pass for a sure TD) or the Jets at home (defense allows the Jets to convert a 3rd-and-15 in OT) then the Pats are AFC champs and get the 3rd seed.

"John McCain ran for president in 2000. Why couldn't we have elected him then? When he was sane." - Lewis Black

Originally posted by redsoxnationI'll go out on a limb and predict the Browns offensive coordinator will not get the head coaching job.

I'll agree with you there, but when you're down to your 4th string QB that you just picked up a couple weeks ago, you aren't going to be scoring many points. Hell, they weren't going to be scoring any points with Dorsey, either.

Here's to the new regime. Again. Sigh.

That was a heckuva game last night by the Bolts. Run, run, run on 4th down and the Donkeys still couldn't stop them. What an awful defensive showing.

Jets-Dolphins was a fun game to watch. Wonder if Mangini's firing (if official) will help keep Favre around? I bet Green Bay has to be glad they are not the ones on the end of the "will he or won't he" yearly scenario.

I like the Falcons, and can't believe the Eagles got in (good for them). I have no idea who to root for in the AFC, I guess anyone playing the Ravens or Steelers.

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How can something so great be so bittersweet. Almost everyone (Vikings fans) that I know were hoping for the loss just so it wouldn't insure another year of Childress. Oh, well, at least we're in the playoffs. Now, if AP can just keep hold of the ball........

Originally posted by BigDaddyLocoI'm really let down to see my 11-5 Pats have to go home and sit, while a Cardinals team they blew out just last week, and an 8-8 Chargers team both get to be first round cannon fodder.

The Patriots were 3-3 in their own division. The Cardinals were 6-0. Moral: Win the games you have to win, and you make the playoffs.

Hell, who WOULDN'T go 6-0 against that division, aside from my Chiefs, the Lions, Browns or Raiders?

If Herm Edwards isn't fired by the end of the day something is very, VERY wrong. How many coaches are dumb enough to waste a timeout challenging that a catch made at the 1/2 yard line is a touchdown when anyone at home or in the stands can watch the replay and see no evidence the ball crossed the goal line. Herm, you only need a 1/2 yard. If you don't feel your team can get it, QUIT YOUR JOB. Good thing they brought in a coach whose specialty is defense, otherwise they wouldn't have broken the sack record! Oh wait, whatsthat? OOOOOOOH, nevermind. They broke the record for fewest sacks in a 16 game season. Please Clark Hunt and whoever the new GM is, do the right thing.

At least I'm not a Lions fan.

While the Raiders did finish with 3 more wins than the Chiefs, I am comforted knowing there will be a new GM, while the Raiders still have Al Davis running the show.

Hm. I wonder what ESPN will be running a Sportscenter special on today, Brett Favre retirement watch or Wade Phillips firing watch?

Medalla, congrats to the Vikes, I hope they do well. I'll be rooting for my old favorite player, Jared Allen. But they did just barely squeak by at home against a Giants team playing for nothing.

Wow, the Jets are really stupid. Their next coaching hire better be a slam-dunk. It's not Mangini's fault Brett sucks.

That Eagles beatdown of the overhyped Boys was a thing of beauty. I guess Donovan and Reid get another year.

How much more painful is it to Gruden that he got knocked out by the Raiders?

Nothing beats the Donkeys getting knocked out in the last game of the season, as I find the Chargers to be the least hateable team in the AFC West. Somewhere Ed Hochuli breathes a sigh of relief.

San Diego wouldnt' have been limping in without Hochuli giving an extra win to Denver.

Should have been 9-7, Denver 7-9. Oh well, justice prevails.

SD is a better team than they appear to be. Remember, LT has been dogging it and taking the out of bounds option instead of turning and hitting a guy. This is better for his overall longevity, but one hopes he can turn it on for the playoffs and go back to that harder hitting style.

Originally posted by ZeruelAccording to my research, San Diego is the first .500 divisional winner since Cleveland won the AFC Central at 8-8 back in 1985.

I believe I heard this the other day that the last time there was a .500 division winner, it was also the last time a 10+ win team did not make the post-season.

Two 10+ win teams, actually. But something has to be made clear, we have a six team per conference playoff. Back in 1985, it was only a five team per conference playoff. The 3 divisional winners and two wildcards. The playoffs were expanded to six teams per conference for the 1990 season.

If they had a 6th team like we do now, the 11-5 Denver Broncos and 10-6 Washington Redskins would have been the 6th seeds.

(edited by Zeruel on 29.12.08 1743)

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Word came in that both Clemson and South Carolina will decline any incoming bowl invitations Click Here (thekansan.com) ... I would say that's a very big move on the administrations part. Dare I say maybe even a little harsh.